But all of that weight loss does come with a bit of a cost. Although your health and weight can improve dramatically, the human body is not equipped to handle that much weight loss all at once. Often there is a significant amount of excess skin left over after bariatric surgery, and this can cause some significant distress – especially for those that hoped to be more proud of their body after weight loss occurred.

Total Body Lifts for Post Weight Loss Surgery Patients

The solution for many is what’s known as a “total body lift,” which we perform here at Plastic Surgery Body Contouring Center. Total body lifts are intensive forms of plastic surgery, that aim to reshape your body and body contouring all at once so that you can appreciate your new weight loss.

Body lifts are primarily an aesthetic procedure, but may have health benefits as well as the excess skin can make it difficult to move or be active, and could increase your risk for infection. Dr. Agha in Newport Beach has become one of the known leaders in body lifts in Southern California, serving those not only in Orange County and Los Angeles, but also across the country.

When to Get a Body Lift After Bariatric Surgery

The benefits of body lifts after bariatric surgery are well known, and it is becoming an accepted and common part of the weight loss process, especially at Plastic Surgery Body Contouring Center, where we specialize in body lifts for bariatric surgery patients.

Still, the exact time to get a body lift is not well known. It is based not necessarily on the time since your surgery, but rather where you are in your weight loss and health goals:

Goal Weight – The best body lift candidates are at or near their goal weight. Generally this is at least two years after bariatric surgery, but may be anywhere from 1.5 to 5 years depending on the speed to which you lose weight. At the very least, it’s important that your weight will remain stable, and has been stable for at least 6 months to a year. This is to ensure that the surgery will result in the body you can expect to maintain.

Improved Health – Bariatric surgery is generally recommended for patients that have weight related health issues, such as diabetes, heart disease, and other common obesity related problems. But these health problems also increase the risk of complications during surgery, so it is recommended that your health has improved from these health conditions before you receive a body lift.

Realistic Expectations – Finally, obesity can, in some cases, lead to the development of mental health issues, including depression, body dysmorphic disorder, and more. Body lifts are an excellent way to improve the way you feel about your physical appearance, but there are still going to be scars and some areas you may not love. Thus comfort with yourself after weight loss is important, so make sure you’re at a place when you’re ready for great results but also have realistic expectations about surgery.

As you can see, it is not necessarily about time, but about outcomes. When you find yourself at a stable weight, you are healthy enough for surgery, and you’re fully ready for what body lifts can do for you – both the benefits and the weaknesses – then you may be a good candidate for a body lift.

Although it may take anywhere from 2 to 5 years to be ready for your body lift, the results of body lifts are overwhelmingly positive, especially when placed in the hands of a body list expert like Dr. Agha of Plastic Surgery Body Contouring Center. The best thing you can do is schedule a consultation. Call us today at 949-644-2442 to find out if you’re a good candidate for a body lift.